#privacy

#privacy

The UK has agreed to drop its mandate for Apple to provide a 'back door' that would have enabled access to the protected encrypted data of American citizens and encroached on our civil liberties,

The wearable looks a bit like an Apple AirTag on a necklace. Friend is designed to be always-on to hear whatever the wearer says (as well as any other noise they're near), use AI to process those inputs, and formulate its own responses, which it then sends via text message to the wearer. "The more you talk to it, the more you build up a relationship with it. And that's really the whole goal of the product," Schiffmann told Fast Company in July 2024.

Hyper-personalization-AI's ability to tailor experiences down to the individual level-has become the new norm. For many consumers, these recommendations feel helpful, convenient, and even delightful. Yet, for others, they provoke discomfort, raising questions about just how much these platforms know about us. This paradox is at the heart of a growing debate: Does hyper-personalization build consumer trust and loyalty, or does it erode them by feeling intrusive? And more importantly, how does it shape our purchase intention?

AI isn't going anywhere, and everyone knows that by now. People around the world are using AI for just about any reason or task that you can imagine. I know people who consider the AI chatbots to be friends. I also know people who look at AI as a tool for research. And then there are those who use AI to write correspondence and other types of documents.

Without directly naming SafetyCore, Google explained that the optional setting can blur photos that may contain nudity and display a warning before you view or share them. Sensitive Content Warnings appears to use SafetyCore to analyze images locally on your device. Google has emphasized that SafetyCore runs entirely on your phone -- images don't leave your device, and Google doesn't know if nudity was flagged.

Google announced that Android developers will now have to register. This not only involves paying a fee, but Google also requires the submission of official identity documents and the unique identifiers of all apps they want to distribute. According to F-Droid, this means that independent developers who make their software available via the platform will no longer be able to operate outside of Google.

Security researchers are shining the spotlight on a serious security vulnerability that could enable stalkers to track victims using their own Tile tags, as well as other unwanted violations of security and privacy. Research outlined by Wired shows that Tile's anti-theft mode, which makes its trackers "invisible" on the Tile network, counteracts measures to prevent stalking. Bad actors could also potentially intercept unencrypted information sent from the tags, like their unique IDs and MAC addresses,

When I was finished using the facilities, I opened the door and faced a woman standing squarely in my way, scowling at me. After holding the scowl for a few silent moments, she said, I thought you'd never leave. Taken aback, I merely laughed awkwardly as we sidled past each other. Miss Manners, I promise I did not take an inordinate amount of time in the restroom. Was there a better way to respond?

Modern digital workspaces have made knowledge management infinitely easier. Whether you're building a personal knowledge base, organizing research, or planning projects, there are a bunch of platforms that can help. Anytype and Notion are tools that help structure, store, and manage information like a second brain. Anytype is a new entrant that stands out through its promise of a fully local, privacy-focused, and offline-first approach to knowledge management. On the other hand, Notion is a platform known for its powerful note-taking capabilities, collaborative features, and rich databases.

If you own a car, there's a good chance it's recording data about you every single time you get behind the wheel - and selling it to companies for their own profit. But what information, exactly, are automakers harvesting about U.S. motorists, and how could it amplify the

The first time your parents walk into your home unannounced is fine; the seventh and eighth time? That's a bit of a problem. The first rule I required when we all moved in is that you have to knock if you're going into the other person's space. Our time in our homes is private, and no one wants to be ambushed by something they weren't expecting. Plus, my husband and I both work from home and can't afford to have calls interrupted unexpectedly.

Or at least it might be if you're happy to sign up for a Samsung account. Turn on the M90SF, and softly inoffensive music fills the air while a QR code appears on screen. Point your phone at it, and you're sent to create a new account or log into your existing Samsung SmartThings account. You can use the M90SF as a computer monitor without signing in, but if you want access to the smart TV functions and streaming services, you'll have to hand over your details.

Microsoft has cut off the Israel Ministry of Defense's access to some of its tech and services after an internal investigation found the organization appeared to be using its tech to store surveillance data on phone calls made by Palestinians. The tech giant announced on Thursday that it made the decision to "cease and disable" certain subscriptions from the Israeli military. This affects subscriptions to Azure cloud storage and certain AI services.

"It was a lot easier, in some ways, for journalists back in the 80s and 90s, before all of these cloud platforms existed," said Melody Kramer, a product manager at ProPublica who works on engagement and crowdsourcing tools. "You would put things in a Microsoft Word document, share that within your [physical] newsroom, and nothing would live in a data center or different space." The most sensitive stories could be written on computers without network connections and discussed and edited only in the office.